Things to do in Paris: when to go, what to see and what to know

Eurostar's Paris guide covers the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Montmartre, the Catacombs and Versailles. On timing, there is no single best month in the weather figures: at the Paris-Montsouris station the average daily high runs from 7.6°C in January to 25.7°C in July, and July has 222.4 hours of sunshine against 56.9 in December.

This guide draws on the Météo-France climate sheet for Paris-Montsouris, the FCDO advice for France on GOV.UK, the official sites of the Louvre and the Château de Versailles, and Eurostar's guide, all read on 9 November 2026. GOV.UK shows that its France advice was last updated on 22 October 2026 and was still current on 9 November 2026. The Météo-France sheet was edited on 6 June 2025 and gives averages for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast. Eurostar's page shows no update date, so confirm opening arrangements before you book.

The table uses the Météo-France sheet for the Paris-Montsouris station, 75 m above sea level, and gives 1991 to 2020 averages: the daily high and low in degrees Celsius, the month's rainfall in millimetres, the days with 1 mm of rain or more, and the hours of sunshine.

The average daily high is lowest in January, at 7.6°C, and highest in July, at 25.7°C. February is the driest month by volume, with 41.8 mm, and May the wettest, with 69.0 mm. The number of days with 1 mm or more of rain only ranges from 7.4 in July to 11.4 in December.

Winter is also the dark part of the year: January has 59.0 hours of sunshine and December 56.9, against 222.4 in July. The station records 634.3 mm of rain in a year, on 108.9 days of 1 mm or more, and 1,717 hours of sunshine.

It depends on what you weigh most, so the table sets the options side by side. July comes out on top for warmth and sunshine, but it is also one of the two months with the most days at 30°C or above.

If you are planning a longer trip or a different date, compare other places in our destinations hub.

Averages hide the extremes. Météo-France lists the records for the station from 1 June 1872 to 2 June 2025: 42.6°C on 25 July 2019, and -23.9°C on 10 December 1879. An average year has 14.0 days at 30°C or above, 5.5 of them in July and 5.0 in August, and 20.8 nights at 0°C or below, 7.0 of them in January.

Eurostar's guide describes a city of 20 arrondissements, each a distinct neighbourhood with its own atmosphere and attractions. The table sets out what that guide says about six places.

Heading to the theme park instead? Our guide to Disneyland Paris covers getting there from the UK.

Two exhibitions at the Louvre and one at Versailles are listed on their own sites on 9 November 2026. Dates are as the museums print them.

Versailles carries a warning for visitors: because counterfeit tickets are in circulation, it recommends buying admission tickets only through its official ticket office. On the day we read it, the Louvre's home page said the museum may open later and that some exhibition rooms may remain closed, so check the day you plan to go.

The FCDO calls Paris Gare du Nord the Eurostar terminus, and Eurostar says the compact size of the city makes an overnight London to Paris city break a real possibility. Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and Gare du Nord are both on RER line B, according to the FCDO. Our trains guide covers Eurostar and the other rail routes, and the UK airports guide covers reaching your own departure airport.

We give no fares, journey times or flight routes, because the pages we could read carried none. We could not open the websites of the Paris Métro and RER operators on 9 November 2026, so we give no ticket or zone information for them either; check the operators' own pages before you go.

The FCDO's advice covers France as a whole and names Paris in several places. We read its safety and security page and its warnings page and picked the points that apply to a city visit. For an ambulance, the FCDO health page says to call 112.

The FCDO adds that no travel can be guaranteed safe and asks readers to read all of its advice. If you plan to drive, our guides to driving in France and the Crit'Air sticker explain the rules from the UK side.

The FCDO says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Its entry page is for people on a full British citizen passport travelling from the UK, and it asks for a passport issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive and expiring at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

The EU's Entry/Exit System means you may need to register fingerprints and a photo. The FCDO says there is no cost, the record is valid for 3 years, and if you travel by Eurostar from St Pancras International the information is taken at the border before you leave the UK. Our entry requirements hub lists other destinations, and the passport validity guide gives UK renewal timings. All read on 9 November 2026 from the FCDO entry requirements page.

Start with your dates and what you will be doing in the city.

• Your weather
  The average daily high is 7.6°C in January and 25.7°C in July, and rain of 1 mm or more falls on 7.4 to 11.4 days a month.
• Your passport
  Issued less than 10 years before you arrive and valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
• Your belongings
  Keep valuables in separate bags or pockets, especially on the Métro, the RER and at mainline stations.
• Your plans
  Demonstrations and industrial action can disrupt transport at short notice, so check your operator before you set off.
• Your tickets
  Versailles recommends buying admission tickets only through its official ticket office.
• Your emergency number
  112 for an ambulance, per the FCDO.

More general advice is in our travel tips, and the holiday packing list starts with documents.

• When is the best time to visit Paris?

  There is no single best month in the figures. At the Paris-Montsouris station July is the warmest, with an average daily high of 25.7°C, and the sunniest, with 222.4 hours, while February is the driest by volume, with 41.8 mm. Pick by the weather you want.

• How much does it rain in Paris?

  Météo-France records 634.3 mm a year at Paris-Montsouris, on 108.9 days of 1 mm or more. May is the wettest month, with 69.0 mm, and February the driest, with 41.8 mm.

• How hot does Paris get in summer?

  The average daily high is 25.7°C in July and 25.6°C in August. The station averages 14.0 days a year at 30°C or above, and its record is 42.6°C on 25 July 2019.

• Do British passport holders need a visa for Paris?

  Not for a short stay. The FCDO says you can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and your passport must meet the issue and expiry rules.

• What does the FCDO say about pickpockets in Paris?

  It says thieves and pickpockets operate on the Paris Métro, on RER lines and at mainline stations, and can work in gangs. It advises keeping valuables in separate bags or pockets and carrying your bag across your body.

• Do I need ID with me in Paris?

  The FCDO says you must be able to prove your identity with documents when asked, or within 4 hours at a police station. Accepted IDs include a passport and a photocard driving licence.

• What is the emergency number for an ambulance in France?

  The FCDO says to call 112 and ask for an ambulance.

• Do I need a sticker to drive in central Paris?

  The FCDO says all vehicles driving in central Paris must display a pollution sticker from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Our Crit’Air guide explains how it works for UK drivers.